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'It's
quite a large puppy and the defendant thought when he picked it up it
would be quite heavy but he realised it was quite light.

'His only intention was to get the dog off the bowling green. He was also concerned that the dog would defecate on the green.'

Picturesque: The incident took place at Teddington Bowls Club when Wellington wandered onto the green

Mr
Roberts added: 'Mr Broadhurst stated that he did not intend to maltreat
the dog but agreed that by grabbing the dog by the tail it was likely
to cause unnecessary suffering but it was not done intentionally.'

Broadhurst
had already suffered as a result of his actions, he added, as the
defendant was publicly shamed when somebody cut an article about the
incident out of the local paper and pinned it to the bowls club, adding
offensive comments to it.

Ms Reynolds had also contacted the
English Bowls Association, calling for Broadhurst to be suspended or
dismissed from the Teddington club.

'That has caused this
defendant a great deal of distress and has exacerbated the anxiety and
stress from this incident,' said Mr Roberts.

Magistrates'
chairman Frank Lyness told Broadhurst, of Teddington, that the
appropriate punishment was a fine of £120. He also ordered him to pay
£70 towards court costs and a further £15 in a victim surcharge.